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Boston has been one of the hottest teams in baseball, and they’re carrying that momentum into Sacramento against an Athletics club that has its own reasons to play spoiler. The Red Sox have gone 21-3 over their last 24 games and are 16-2 in July — the best record through 18 games to begin any calendar month in franchise history. That kind of run doesn’t happen without contributions up and down the roster, and right now Boston looks like a team that has figured something out.

For the Athletics, the losses have been piling up — three straight and a 3-7 mark over their last ten — but their lineup still carries genuine threats. Tyler Soderstrom has 17 home runs and 50 RBI, and Zack Gelof brings a .273 average with 11 home runs and 41 runs scored. On the mound, Hayden Juenger has been quietly excellent with a 2.08 ERA.

Boston counters with Payton Tolle, who has a 3.32 ERA and 103 strikeouts, and a bullpen anchored by Aroldis Chapman, who has converted 25 saves with a 1.82 ERA. The ingredients are in place for a compelling game between a team surging toward October and one looking to prove it still has bite.

Boston Red Sox at Athletics Game Information

Game Date: July 28, 2026
Game Time: 09:40 PM ET
TV Channel: NESN, NBC Sports California, and MLB.TV – Boston Red Sox
Location: Sutter Health Park, West Sacramento, CA
Live Stream: Fubo (free trial)

Game Preview

Boston sits seven games back in the wild card race but has climbed to the second wild card spot on the strength of its recent dominance. The Athletics, 10 games back, are watching the playoff picture grow more distant — but that doesn’t make them a passive opponent. Sacramento is their home, and a team with Soderstrom, Gelof, and Jacob Wilson (.273, 7 HR, 32 RBI) in the lineup can make things uncomfortable for anyone. For Boston, every win tightens the grip on a postseason berth. For Oakland, a win here is a statement.

Athletics Team Statistics and Rankings

Win-Loss Record: 44-62
Home Record: 20-31
Away Record: 24-31
Division Record: 5-13
Streak: 3 Loss streak
Winning Percentage: .415

Boston Red Sox Team Statistics and Rankings

Win-Loss Record: 55-50
Home Record: 25-29
Away Record: 30-21
Division Record: 14-8
Streak: 2 Win streak
Winning Percentage: .524

Stat Leaders

Athletics (44-62, #4 in division)

Batting Average Leader: Joshua Kuroda-Grauer, 0.417
RBI Leader: Nick Kurtz, 69 RBI
Home Run Leader: Shea Langeliers, 23 HR
Runs Leader: Nick Kurtz, 62 Runs
Hits Leader: Shea Langeliers, 99 Hits
Stolen Bases Leader: Henry Bolte, 11 SB
ERA Leader: Hayden Juenger, 2.08 ERA
Strikeout Leader: J.T. Ginn, 100 K
Wins Leader: J.T. Ginn, 8 W
Saves Leader: Hogan Harris, 8 SV

Boston Red Sox (55-50, #3 in division)

Batting Average Leader: Jahmai Jones, 0.375
RBI Leader: Willson Contreras, 66 RBI
Home Run Leader: Willson Contreras, 22 HR
Runs Leader: Willson Contreras, 54 Runs
Hits Leader: Ceddanne Rafaela, 108 Hits
Stolen Bases Leader: Jarren Duran, 15 SB
ERA Leader: Aroldis Chapman, 1.82 ERA
Strikeout Leader: Ranger Suarez, 103 K
Wins Leader: Sonny Gray, 12 W
Saves Leader: Aroldis Chapman, 25 SV

What to Watch For

Payton Tolle takes the ball for Boston in a spot where the Red Sox need their rotation to sustain the momentum the offense has built. His 3.32 ERA and 103 strikeouts reflect a pitcher who has been reliable and productive, and a strong outing here would reinforce that Boston’s starting pitching can hold up through a demanding stretch of games. Behind him, Chapman’s 1.82 ERA makes the late innings feel like a closed door for opposing offenses.

For the Athletics, the pitching matchup on their side is still to be confirmed, but the offense has enough to work with. Nick Kurtz leads the club with 69 RBI and 62 runs scored, and Soderstrom’s 17 home runs give Sacramento a legitimate power threat in the middle of the order. Gelof adds speed and pop, with 8 stolen bases alongside his 11 home runs.

The Athletics are also navigating a significant injury list — Zack Gelof is on the 10-day IL with a knee injury, Shea Langeliers is on the 10-day IL with a knee injury, and J.T. Ginn is on the 15-day IL with a finger injury. That opens the door for players like Jeff McNeil (.245, 4 HR, 33 RBI) and Alika Williams (.270, 2 HR, 10 RBI) to step into larger roles and make their case.

Athletics Injury Report

Mark Leiter Jr. – Hip (D15) – The Athletics placed RHP Mark Leiter on the 15-day injured list due to right hip impingement.
Justin Sterner – Knee (D15) – The Athletics placed RHP Justin Sterner on the 15-day injured list due to right knee chondromalacia.
Gunnar Hoglund – Knee (D60) – The Athletics transferred RHP Gunnar Hoglund from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day injured list due to a sprained right knee. Hoglund will be sidelined for the rest of the 2026 season after undergoing surgery on his left hip.
Denzel Clarke – Foot (D60) – The Athletics transferred OF Denzel Clarke to the 60-day injured list with a mid-foot bone bruise in his right foot.
Shea Langeliers – Knee (D10) – The Athletics placed C Shea Langeliers on the 10-day injured list with a torn meniscus in his right knee.
J.T. Ginn – Finger (D15) – The Athletics placed RHP J.T. Ginn on the 15-day injured list with right middle finger blister.
Jeffrey Springs – Undisclosed (Day-to-Day) – Springs was removed from Sunday’s (Jul. 26) game against the Twins due to an apparent injury.
Zack Gelof – Knee (D10) – The Athletics placed INF Zack Gelof on the 10-day injured list with a right knee laceration.
Brent Rooker – Knee (D60) – The Athletics placed DH Brent Rooker on the 60-day injured list.
Brooks Kriske – Shoulder (D60) – The Athletics transferred RHP Brooks Kriske to the 60-day injured list with a right shoulder impingement.
Joshua Kuroda-Grauer – Testicle (D10) – The Athletics placed INF Joshua Kuroda-Grauer on the 10-day injured list due to ruptured testicle surgery.
Luis Severino – Shoulder (D60) – The Athletics transferred RHP Luis Severino to the 60-day injured list with a strained right shoulder.

Boston Red Sox Injury Report

Zack Kelly – Elbow (D60) – The Boston Red Sox placed RHP Zack Kelly on the 60-day injured list with right elbow inflammation.
Tanner Houck – Elbow (D60) – The Boston Red Sox placed RHP Tanner Houck on the 60-day injured list due to a right flexor pronator strain.
Curtis Mead – Hand (Day-to-Day) – Mead left Monday’s (Jul. 27) game against the Athletics due to being hit in the hand by a pitch.
Isiah Kiner-Falefa – Forearm (D10) – The Boston Red Sox placed INF Isiah Kiner-Falefa on the 10-day injured list with left forearm inflammation.
Triston Casas – Knee (D60) – The Boston Red Sox transferred INF Triston Casas from the 10-day injured list to the 60-day injured list as he recovers from left patellar tendon repair.
Garrett Crochet – Shoulder (D60) – The Boston Red Sox transferred LHP Garrett Crochet to the 60-day injured list from the 15-day injured list with a left shoulder inflammation.
Johan Oviedo – Elbow (D60) – The Boston Red Sox transferred RHP Johan Oviedo to the 60-day injured list due to a right elbow strain.
Kutter Crawford – Wrist (D60) – The Boston Red Sox transferred RHP Kutter Crawford from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day injured list as he recovers from right wrist surgery.
Roman Anthony – Wrist (D60) – The Boston Red Sox transferred OF Roman Anthony from the 10-day injured list to the 60-day injured list due to right wrist sprain.
Trevor Story – Abdomen (D60) – The Boston Red Sox transferred INF Trevor Story from the 10-day injured list to the 60-day injured list due to sports hernia.
Marcelo Mayer – Forearm (D10) – The Boston Red Sox placed INF Marcelo Mayer on the 10-day injured list with a stress reaction on his left forearm.

Athletics Upcoming 2026 Schedule

July 28, 2026 vs Boston Red Sox
July 29, 2026 vs Boston Red Sox
July 30, 2026 vs Boston Red Sox
July 31, 2026 vs Detroit Tigers
August 01, 2026 vs Detroit Tigers
August 02, 2026 vs Detroit Tigers
August 04, 2026 at Cincinnati Reds
August 05, 2026 at Cincinnati Reds
August 06, 2026 at Cincinnati Reds
August 07, 2026 at Boston Red Sox

Boston Red Sox Upcoming 2026 Schedule

July 28, 2026 at Athletics
July 29, 2026 at Athletics
July 30, 2026 at Athletics
July 31, 2026 at Los Angeles Dodgers
August 01, 2026 at Los Angeles Dodgers
August 02, 2026 at Los Angeles Dodgers
August 04, 2026 vs Chicago White Sox
August 05, 2026 vs Chicago White Sox
August 06, 2026 vs Chicago White Sox
August 07, 2026 vs Athletics

Our game previews are produced programmatically using real-time data via Sportradar and AI writing tools. Articles are regularly reviewed for accuracy before publication.